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Florida's reputation as an ideal retirement state doesn't carry over to the quality of care those retirees living here, a study says. According to AARP rankings released Thursday, Florida is the fourth-worst state for long-term services for the elderly and people with disabilities.
The rankings, the study said, are meant to help states improve such care "so that older people and adults with disabilities in all states can exercise choice and control over their lives, thereby maximizing their independence and wellbeing."
States were judged on their quality of life and care, support for family caregivers, choice of setting and provider for services such as assisted living, affordability and access as well as the effectiveness of transitions from care settings. Florida ranked second to last in choice of setting and provider, and not higher than 40th in the other four categories. It did best when it came to effective transitions, placing at No. 21.
Contact Malena Carollo at mcarollo@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2249. Follow @malenacarollo on Twitter.
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